Meet the Alumni Relations Committee

Dr. Claire Stice Stephens is a 2006 Odyssey and Clarke Central High School alumna. In 2010, Claire graduated from the University of Georgia and earned a doctorate degree in 2015 from Cornell University. She completed a post-doctoral fellowship in the OB/GYN Center for Reproductive Health Science at Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine where her work revealed a novel mechanism and therapeutic target critical for decidualization, implantation and overall pregnancy outcomes.

Stephens joined Elanco Animal Health in 2016 as a clinical efficacy and target animal safety scientist. Currently, Stephens leads Elanco’s early pipeline companion and food animal parasiticide product development.

She continues to effectively communicate innovation inside and outside her organization by publishing numerous manuscripts, a book chapter and leading cross-functional scientific forums and workshops. She loves traveling, a good DIY project, cycling, and enjoying the outdoors with her husband and their two boys.

David A. Ragsdale, CJE, has advised student publications since 2001 at Clarke Central High School, where his duties include advising the ODYSSEY Media Group and Iliad literary-art magazine. Additionally, he serves as Co-Chair of the English department at CCHS, coordinates student internships with the University of Georgia, serves as the Gifted Coordinator and teaches senior English.

Ragsdale received the Crystal Apple Award, an honor given to University of Georgia alumni in K-12 education who have made a significant impact on student, school or school district performance in 2007, was the CCHS Teacher of the Year in 2007-2008 and its Star Teacher in 2014. He was named an ASNE Reynolds High School Journalism Fellow in 2014, an Elizabeth Dickey Distinguished Service Award recipient by the Southern Interscholastic Press Association in 2015, and was the Georgia Scholastic Press Association Adviser of the Year in 2007 and 2020. Additionally, he was named a Columbia Scholastic Press Association Distinguished Adviser in 2019 and the National Journalism Teacher of the Year in 2022.

David Ragsdale

He served on UGA’s College of Education’s Alumni Board for several years, and currently serves on the National Council of Teachers of English’ REALM committee, as the Journalism Education Associations’ State Director for Georgia, and as the SIPA Executive Committee Vice Chair and on the GSPA Advisory Board.

Ragsdale and his partner Kate are parents to Lavender, Clover and the ODYSSEY’s mascot, Homer.

Molly Harwell is a junior at Clarke Central High School and the editor-in-chief for the ODYSSEY Media Group. She hopes to learn about leadership and create strong connections with her peers. Harwell also wants to create quality pieces that spark the interest of others within the Clarke Central community. In her spare time, Harwell enjoys reading, dancing, baking and spending time with friends.

Molly Harwell

Mindy McCage has a BA in Mass Communications and her MEd in pre-K - 5 education. She is the proud mother of two Odyssey/CCHS graduates: Connor McCage, Class of 2019 and Ireland McCage, Class of 2022. McCage served was a Booster Club Volunteer from 2015-2018 and Booster Club President from 2019-2022. She volunteered at countless UGA football games as a stand worker, stand manager and parent volunteer coordinator. McCage also chaperoned numerous ODYSSEY field trips.

She currently teaches K-5 Gifted in Barrow County. McCage cherishes the small victories in the classroom, such as a student enjouing a class novel or when she sees the light bulb of understanding go off in class.

McCage has been happily married to her husband Kevin for 22 years and is a pet mom to Tater, Tiger, Abby, Akira and Ouija.